Car-coupling



Patented May 12, 1885.

A. J. CHAPEL.

GAR GOUPLING.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES 42m.

- ATTORNEYS.

forms of draw-bars.

NITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

A. JUDSON CHAPEL, OF ARKANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,725, dated May 12, 1885.

Application filed March 23, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, A. Jonson CHAPEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arkansas City, in the county of Cowley and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Gouplin gs, of which the following is a description.

In accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved coupling applied to a car. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 00 m,.Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 y, Fig. 2.

In this invention the coupling-pins, and the holes or sockets in the draw-head in which they fit, have the same form as shown in my Patent No. 297,765, dated April 29, 1884; and the said pins are also similarly adapted to operate automatically for coupling cars provided with the ordinary slot-link.

My invention is more particularly an improvement in the class of triple-headed couplers. The construction and combination of parts, and objects aimed at and attained there by, are hereinafter fully set forth.

My improved draw-head enables a stronger coupling to be made than the ordinary-linkcoupling is capable of. The two side links always couple automatically when two cars meet. The central link cavity enables an automatic coupling to be effected with any car having the ordinary link, and with various The double coupling, or coupling of two links, may be effected without danger to train-men, and even without their aid.

There are, in this case, three pins, A A A, and three corresponding link cavities or sockets, B-that is to say, the draw-bar C is tripleheaded. The two pins A A, to-witthe middle pin and the one on the left thereof, (see Fig. 3)-fit loosely in the holes in the draw-head, so that they are adapted to slide up and down easily. These loose pins A A are raised at will by means of a crank rod or shaft, D, having rigid arms I) and angular links 0. The latter are pivoted to the vertical extensions (1 of pins A A and loosely attached to the said arms I). The shaft D is journaled in suitable hearings on the front of the car, as shown, and its bent ends form lever-arms, for use in rocking it to raise the pins A A, (see dotted lines, Fig. 2,) as required for uncoupling. Each lever-arm may be turned from either corner of the car, and when so turned raises both pins A A. The center pin may extend by rod or chain to near the top of car, so as to be readily operated by a. train-man on the car, if desirable. After a pin has been raised, its own weight causes it to drop into the link and form a complete double automatic coupling with both drawbars and both sides of the bars.

The angular shape of the pin prevents it from turning in the bar, and leaves the flange free to become engaged and easily raised by the contact of any form of link, each pinhead to be sufficiently large to prevent the introduction of snow or water into the pin-hole.

The third or right-hand pin A is fitted tightly, and cannot be raised without special exertion or a special device. Its link a is, moreover, fitted so closely between it and the adjacent walls of the cavity in the draw-head that it will maintain, as nearly as practicable, a horizontal position, in readiness to enter the socket of a draw-head of a eorrespondin g triple-headed draw-bar attached to another car. Thus the left-hand pin A and link a are practical] y made stationary, and constitute perm anent attachments of the draw-bar C, save when some emergency requires their removal.

What I claim is- The triple draw-head having three link cavities and three pins, two of said pins be ing adapted to be raised automatically, and the third being fitted tightly, and a link which is secured by such tight'fitting pin and held in horizontal position, all combined as shown and described.

. A. JUDSON CHAPEL. Witnesses:

JAMEs A. Looms, CHARLES S. CHAPEL. 

